ALLEN PARK -- Golden Tate's four seasons with the Seattle Seahawks coincided with coach Pete Carroll's time with the organization. During that stretch, Tate witnessed the Seahawks transform from a club that went 5-11 the year before he was drafted to Super Bowl champion last season.

One of the key components of Seattle's success, according to Tate, was the players' understanding they were playing for more than themselves.

"I was part of the lows and the highs," Tate said. "I watched that team grow. This past year, we were playing for each other. We were playing for the city. We were playing for the 12th man. That's what I expect here."

Tate's signing with Detroit Lions this offseason overlaps with another coaching hire, and the veteran wide receiver can see Jim Caldwell placing an emphasis on creating an environment similar to the one he experienced in Seattle.

"One thing I really admire about coach Caldwell is he thinks having a family-like atmosphere is important," Tate said. "I thought that's why Seattle did so well."

For Caldwell, that atmosphere is a layered concept, but first and foremost, it's about respect.

"It's not just a sometimes thing," Caldwell said. "It's how you talk to them, it's how you treat one another. That doesn't necessarily mean it's all kindness and hugs and love and kisses. You have to be direct. When you've got a problem in the family and there's an issue, you've got to confront it and you've got to talk about it."

Quarterback Matthew Stafford said Caldwell's approach is already resonating with the team.

"He has a lot of respect in that locker room already," Stafford said. "Just the way he carries himself, the way he talks about treating us and expecting the same kind of treatment in return. That's something that is always good."

Caldwell and his staff are also encouraging the players to take the time to get to know each other, building relationships away from football. The hope is that chemistry carries to the field.

"We just try to encourage them to get out and learn something about one another, guys that you don't know, go to dinner with them," Caldwell said. "I know a few of them went bowling the other night together and had a pretty good challenge from what I understand.

"We're trying to encourage that they do a number of those things, or different things together, to get to know one another," he continued. "Teams that play well and perform well are usually pretty close."

Tate believes those bonds help a team persevere when the going gets rough.

"There are going to be times when it's freezing out there," he said. "There are going to be times when you're starting to cramp up. But you need to be able to look to your right, look to your left, and see who you're playing for. I think that's going to drive us as a team."